FIFA, the governing body of world football, announced on Wednesday that the winners of the 2026 World Cup will take home $50 million in prize money, marking a record financial allocation for the tournament.
The total prize fund for the tournament will be $655 million (558.5 million euros), nearly a 50% increase from the $440 million awarded to teams at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Next year’s tournament, scheduled from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will be the first to feature 48 teams, up from 32 in the previous edition.
For comparison, the Argentine Football Association received $42 million after winning the 2022 World Cup on penalties against France, while the runner-up France earned $30 million. Under the 2026 prize structure, the losing finalists will receive $33 million, third-place finishers $29 million, and the other semi-finalists $27 million.
Teams eliminated in the group stage will be awarded $9 million, and all 48 participating nations will receive an additional $1.5 million to help cover preparation costs.
